Category Archives: Child Development

Thanks to a participant in an ongoing Parenting class for submitting the following question: “Everyday when I drop my 3 yr.old daughter off at daycare, she screams, cries, clings to me and is experiencing separation anxiety. What can I do to make drop off easier for both of us?” As a Montessori teacher…

There are many moving parts to effective discipline and if you have been trying out Positive Discipline you may be surprised at the steep learning curve. Hopefully this list will help you to gain a little more clarity and direction. 10 Characteristics of Positive Discipline Views problems and challenges as opportunities for the child to learn.…

A series of Workshops is available over the next three months. Where: The Fort Collins Senior Center, Fort Collins, Colorado When: Two Wednesdays a month from March through May 6:30 -8:30 PM Cost: $20.00 per person/ per workshop 03/09/16: Nurturing Your Child’s Self Esteem 03/23/16: The Language of Encouragement 04/06/16 : Effective Discipline 04/20/16: The…

Without a doubt there will be days when emotions run high and challenges seem plenty. During that time it’s wonderful to have a trick bag of coping skills at your disposal. If you’re asking yourself the question, “how to cope with stress?” There are fun ways to defuse and bring calm to mind and body…

Language is a powerful tool and it is well known that the child understands much more than she can communicate. The brain is hard at work cataloging the meaning of words and gathering new concepts via context and experience. It is wise if you are a hands-on parent in this regard, talking through daily routines…

Many parents wonder how to discipline children. What is effective? What will solve the problem? There are two approaches discussed here. The reactive approach is the old paradigm. The proactive approach builds relationship and a strong bond. Reactive: Done in response to a problem or situation; reacting to problems when they occur instead of doing…

These positive parenting tips may help. With summer winding down and the start of the school year written on the calendar in August for many, it’s a good time to get reoriented to this busier time of the year. Since humans are creatures of habits it makes sense to ease into changes whenever possible.…

Good parenting solutions help children learn life skills. After reading a recent newspaper article about the value of children doing chores I thought it would be wise to post some ideas about this. Good parenting skills should include helping your child to develop life skills. In the Montessori classroom children as young as three eagerly…

Sometimes parenting young children feels like walking a tightrope. If you imagine a tightrope walker high in the air, you can imagine how important it is to maintain good balance. Holding that long horizontal pole certainly helps. Putting the metaphor aside for a moment, let’s examine how to maintain balance while raising young children. Hold…

How to deal with a difficult child is often a question many parents ask themselves. If you have a child who doesn’t want to try, is feeling left out and has basically given up then you may be seeing the fourth Mistaken Goal of Display of Inadequacy. It’s frustrating and disheartening for a parent to…